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I've been working for a company for 2 years. I started right out of college. To say the least, it's a grind. I've been earning entry level salary (~$35k/yr) throughout my employ, but my managers really push us hard (I work an average of 65hrs/wk). I'm worried because I can feel myself burning out. I've brought this up to my managers and they say this is the job. Therefore, I want to look for new work but don't want to get into the same situation. I want a reasonable work-life balance. Is that hard to come by these days with a bad economy?? I have no problem working hard, but I don't want my entire life to be consumed by my job. I feel like recruiters won't like if I tell them I want to work an honest work week and not always be at the office for 12hrs a day. Any advice for me on what I should do? Am I delusional to think that I'll find somewhere I can work an average of 40hr/wk? Thank you!

No, you are not unreasonable to want that. There are many companies who value work life balance. I do not think that you will have a hard time finding a job at around 35K a year that gives you that balance. Will there be busy times, yes of course, you may pull overtime several times of the year, but working 65 hours a week all the time is very demanding and I can understand that you are starting to get burned out. My recommendation is continue to look for opportunities at other companies. Make sure to do your research on what the work life balance is at that particular firm. Be honest with recruiters about what you are looking for. No one can fault you for that, and if they do it’s obviously a firm that will require the same kind of hours. Best of luck in your search!

It’s definitely important that you find something that you enjoy doing. When you’re applying online to positions, you may find it helpful to review the job descriptions. That’s a great way for you to understand the demands of each particular job and when you’re interviewing its okay to ask “What is a typical work week?” That way you can have an idea of what to expect.

It is perfectly acceptable to want a good work/life balance and seek this out in another company. Most highly successful companies realize that the most productive workers are those who have this balance. Their high productivity stems from their loyalty and dedication to the company, which is built through an environment that values and strong work/life balance. As to how you can find these companies, it starts with research. I recommend going to the web site GlassDoor.com and reading through the reviews that employees provide on companies. This can give you a good idea of what companies truly value a good balance. Of course, there may be times when conditions require you to work long hours occasionally, but this should be the exception versus the rule. You will find that this is the case in most successful organizations.

There are definitely jobs/career opportunities that exist which do not require 65 hours a week and pay a reasonable wage. Being new in your career, you probably want to demonstrate your work ethic and are eager to move up internally, but not at the expense of your mental/physical health. Earning a salary of $35,000/year plus benefits is actually a good wage for 2 years of experience, but not if it requires 65 hours/week. If you are working 65 hours a week, I would hope that you have a commission or incentive opportunity to earn more based on the extra work. Since you didn’t mention that, it appears that you are being taken advantage of and may want to consider finding a better position. As you work with recruiters and explain your reason for looking, focus on the positives that you are seeking in a new position like a culture where employees are engaged and valued by the organization or opportunities for growth. Don’t focus on the negative and take your time to really explore the company’s culture and values to be sure you have a good match.